Output circuit for an engine control device, and monitoring method for such a circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10047685-B2
Application number	US-201314378477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2013
Priority date	Feb 22, 2012
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

An engine control device (2) of a motor vehicle includes: a control device (6) with elements for generating a control signal; and at least one output circuit (8) including: an input (14) intended to receive a control signal generated by the control device (6), and an output (16) connected to a component (4) and equipped with switching elements (18). The control device (2) further includes a monitoring device (20), which has: a first input (24) receiving the signal from the input (14) of the output circuit (8) connected to the control device (6), a second input (22) connected to the output (16) of the output circuit (8), and control elements associated with time delay elements for interrupting the connection between the output of the output circuit (8) and the component (4).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An engine control device ( 2 ) of a motor vehicle, the engine control device ( 2 ) comprising:
a control device ( 6 ) with means for generating a control signal and a test signal, the control signal and the test signal being provided at a first output ( 10 ) of the control device ( 6 );
at least one output circuit ( 8 ) comprising:
i) an input ( 14 ) connected to the first output ( 10 ) of the control device ( 6 ), the input ( 14 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) receiving the control signal generated by the control device ( 6 ) from the first output ( 10 ) of the control device ( 6 ), and
ii) an output ( 16 ) connected to a component ( 4 ) and equipped with switching means ( 18 ); and
a monitoring device ( 20 ) comprising:
i) a first input ( 24 ) connected to the first input ( 14 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) so that both the input ( 14 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) and the first input ( 24 ) of the monitoring device ( 20 ) directly receive from the first output ( 10 ) of the control device ( 6 ), as a same direct input signal, the control signal when generated by the control device ( 6 ) and the test signal when generated by the control device ( 6 ),
ii) a second input ( 22 ) connected to the output ( 16 ) of the output circuit ( 8 ), the second input ( 22 ) receiving the output ( 16 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) for monitoring the output signal at the output ( 16 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ), and
iii) a connection control means associated with time delay means for interrupting a connection between the output ( 16 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) and the component ( 4 ), wherein a time delay is started upon detection of the output signal from the output ( 16 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) to the first input ( 24 ) of the monitoring device ( 20 ), said time delay defining a time interval of predetermined length, and wherein when during said time interval no test signal is received, the connection control means actuates the switching means ( 18 ) to open the connection between the output ( 16 ) of the at least one output circuit ( 8 ) and the component ( 4 ).

2. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device ( 20 ) is physically integrated into the output circuit ( 8 ).

3. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device ( 20 ) is a separate circuit from the output circuit ( 8 ).

4. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device ( 20 ) comprises analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the first input ( 24 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

5. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the second input ( 22 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

6. A method of monitoring an output circuit ( 8 ), said output circuit ( 8 ) comprising:
an input ( 14 ) that receives signals, each signal being a control signal generated by a control device ( 6 ) or a test signal, and
an output ( 16 ) connected to a component ( 4 ) and equipped with switching means ( 18 ),
the method comprising using a monitoring device ( 20 ) comprising i) a first input ( 24 ) connected to the input ( 14 ) of said output circuit ( 8 ) so that both the input ( 14 ) of said output circuit ( 8 ) and the first input ( 24 ) of the monitoring device ( 20 ) directly receive from the control device ( 6 ), as a same direct input signal, the control signal when generated by the control device ( 6 ) and the test signal, ii) a second input ( 22 ) connected to the output ( 16 ) of said output circuit ( 8 ), and iii) a connection control means associated with time delay means for interrupting a connection between the output ( 16 ) of said output circuit ( 8 ) and the component ( 4 ),
the method further comprising the following steps:
a) monitoring the output signal at the output ( 16 ) of the output circuit ( 8 ) as well as the test signal received at said input ( 14 ) of said output circuit ( 8 ),
b) initiation of a time delay on detection of the output signal at the output ( 16 ) of the output circuit ( 8 ) to the first input ( 24 ) of the monitoring device ( 20 ), said time delay defining a time interval of predetermined length, and
c) when during said time interval with no test signal being received, the connection control means initiating action on the switching means ( 18 ) to open the connection between the output circuit ( 8 ) and the component ( 4 ), and return to step a), and
d) when during said time interval a test signal is received, return to step b).

7. The method of monitoring as claimed in claim 6 , wherein each signal received at the input of the monitoring device is analyzed, and upon the analysis determining that the received signal does not correspond to a predetermined type of signal, the received signal is regarded as not being received.

8. The control device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the monitoring device ( 20 ) comprises analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the first input ( 24 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

9. The control device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the monitoring device ( 20 ) comprises analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the first input ( 24 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

10. The control device as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the second input ( 22 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

11. The control device as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the second input ( 22 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

12. The control device as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising analysis means in order to determine whether the signal received at the second input ( 22 ) thereof corresponds to a predetermined type of signal.

Assignees

• Continental Automotive France
• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Boyer Jean-Luc

Classifications

• Y02T10/40

  Engine management systems · CPC title

• F02D29/02 Primary

  peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers · CPC title

• F02D41/28

  Interface circuits · CPC title

• G05B2219/21163

  Test I-O if functional or safe value · CPC title

• G05B19/0425

  Safety, monitoring · CPC title